Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Neoarchean orogenic, magmatic and hydrothermal events in the Kalgoorlie-Kambalda area, Western Australia: constraints on gold mineralization in the Boulder Lefroy-Golden Mile fault system

  • Article
  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Boulder Lefroy-Golden Mile (BLF-GMF) fault system is the most intensely mineralized structure (>2150 t Au to 2015) in the Archean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. The fault system links the Kalgoorlie and Kambalda mining districts in the Eastern Goldfields Province, a continental-margin orogen subdivided into the western Kalgoorlie ensialic rift and the eastern Kurnalpi volcanic arc. After rifting, the 2.73–2.66 Ga greenstone-greywacke succession in the Kalgoorlie-Kambalda area underwent five phases of orogenic deformation, predominantly during ENE-WSW shortening: D1 upright folding at ca. 2680 Ma, D2 sinistral strike-slip faulting at 2678–2663 Ma, D3 folding of late conglomerate-turbidite successions at 2665–2655 Ma, D4 dextral strike-slip faulting at 2655–2640 Ma and D5 east-northeast-striking normal faulting. Regional prehnite-pumpellyite to greenschist facies burial metamorphism took place during D1 and D3 crustal thickening, and amphibolite facies aureoles formed around granite batholiths during and after D3 at 400 ± 100 MPa pressure. The D2 BLF offsets D1 folds by 12 km SW-side south and contains a porphyry dyke (2676 ± 7 Ma) boudinaged by transtensional oblique-slip along a line pitching 21° southeast. The BLF is linked by transverse D2 thrusts to other sinistral faults recording strike-slip until 2663 ± 7 Ma. Late D2 strike-slip movement alternated with early D3 shortening. D3 thrusts accommodated strain in fault blocks of rigid mafic-ultramafic volcanic rocks consolidated during D1, while the sedimentary rocks in D3 synclines were foliated at high strain. Biotite-sericite alteration and gold-pyrite mineralization in the BLF-GMF system took place at 11 ± 4 km burial depth in faults active during D2 and D3. The Golden Mile (1708 t Au) and other deposits are associated with stocks and dykes of high-Mg monzodiorite-tonalite porphyry, part of a late-orogenic (2665–2645 Ma) mantle-derived suite of adakitic affinity. Hornblende and apatite compositions indicate that these intrusions are characterized by high water contents (5–6 wt% H2O in melt), by high oxidation states (δNNO +1.0 to +2.4 log units) and by igneous anhydrite. Some stocks contain pervasive anhydrite-pyrite mineralization of low gold grade (0.4 g/t). Biotite-sericite-pyrite ore bodies such as those at Kanowna Belle (140 t Au) also replace faulted metamorphic rocks above batholith domes cored by plutons of the monzodiorite suite. The D4 strike-slip faults are barren at Kambalda but control gold quartz-vein ore at Kalgoorlie (2651 ± 9 Ma), and Au-Ag breccia ore at Black Flag (<2648 ± 6 Ma).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JL (1996) Status of thermobarometry in granitic batholiths. Trans R Soc Edinb 87:125–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JL, Smith DR (1995) The effects of temperature and fO2 on the Al-in-hornblende barometer. Am Mineral 80:549–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barley ME, Brown SJA, Krapez B, Kositcin N (2008) Physical volcanology and geochemistry of a Late Archaean volcanic arc: Kurnalpi and Gindalbie terranes, Eastern Goldfields superterrane, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 161:53–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth TFW (1959) Principles of classification and norm calculations of metamorphic rocks. J Geol 67:135–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton MD, Hanson RB (1989) Magmatism and the development of low-pressure metamorphic belts: implications from the western United States and thermal modelling. Geol Soc Am Bull 101:1051–1065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman R, Costa S, Swe T, Lambert D (2001a) Archaean mafic magmatism in the Kalgoorlie area of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: a geochemical and Nd isotopic study of the petrogenesis and tectonic evolution of a greenstone belt. Precambrian Res 108:75–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman RJ, Hagemann SG, McCuaig TC, Swager CP (2001b) Protracted gold mineralization throughout Archaean orogenesis in the Kalgoorlie camp, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: structural, mineralogical, and geochemical evolution. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Record 2001/17, pp 63–98

  • Bath LB, Walshe JL, Cloutier J, Verrall M, Cleverley JS, Pownceby MI, Macrae CM, Wilson NC, Tunjic J, Nortje GS, Robinson P (2013) Biotite and apatite as tools for tracking pathways of oxidized fluids in the Archean East Repulse gold deposit, Australia. Econ Geol 108:667–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett EH, Venkatakrishnan R (1982) A palinspastic reconstruction of the Coeur d’Alene mining district based on ore deposits and structural data. Econ Geol 77:1851–1866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bickle MJ, Archibald NJ (1984) Chloritoid and staurolite stability: implications for metamorphism in the Archaean Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. J Metamorph Geol 2:179–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleeker W (1999) Structure, stratigraphy, and primary setting of the Kidd Creek volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit: a semiquantitative reconstruction. Econ Geol Monogr 10:71–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Blewett RS, Squire R, Miller JM, Henson PA, Champion DC (2010) Architecture and geodynamic evolution of the St Ives Goldfield, eastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 183:275–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohlen SR, Montana A, Kerrick DM (1991) Precise determinations of the equilibria kyanite-sillimanite and kyanite-andalusite and a revised triple point for Al2SiO5 polymorphs. Am Mineral 76:677–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucci LA, McNaughton NJ, Fletcher IR, Groves DI, Kositcin N, Stein HJ, Hagemann SG (2004) Timing and duration of high-temperature gold mineralization and spatially associated granitoid magmatism at Chalice, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Econ Geol 99:1123–1144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucher K, Frey M (2002) Petrogenesis of metamorphic rocks, 7th edn. Springer, Berlin, 341 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron EM, Hattori K (1987) Archean gold mineralization and oxidized hydrothermal fluids. Econ Geol 82:1177–1191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy KF, Bennett JM (1993) Gold mineralisation at the Lady Bountiful mine, Western Australia: an example of a granitoid-hosted Archaean lode gold deposit. Mineral Deposita 28:388–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy KF, Champion DC, Krapez B, Barley ME, Brown SJA, Blewett RS, Groenewald PB, Tyler IM (2006) A revised geological framework for the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Record 2006/8, 8 pp

  • Chang LLY, Howie RA, Zussman J (1998) Rock-forming minerals. Volume 5B. Non-silicates: sulphates, carbonates, phosphates, halides. Geol Soc Lond, pp 335–352

  • Chen SF, Riganti A, Wyche S, Greenfield JE, Nelson DR (2003) Lithostratigraphy and tectonic evolution of contrasting greenstone successions in the central Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 127:249–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claoué-Long JC, Compston W, Cowden A (1988) The age of the Kambalda greenstones resolved by ion-microprobe: implications for Archaean dating methods. Earth Planet Sci Lett 89:239–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark ME, Carmichael DM, Hodgson CJ, Fu M (1989) Wall-rock alteration, Victory gold mine, Kambalda, Western Australia: processes and P-T-XCO2 condition of metasomatism. Econ Geol Monogr 6:445–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Clout JMF, Cleghorn JH, Eaton PC (1990) Geology of the Kalgoorlie goldfield. In: Hughes FE (ed) Geology of the mineral deposits of Australia and Papua New Guinea, vol 14. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Monograph, Melbourne, pp 411–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Compston W, Turek A (1973) Isotopic age limits for the provenance and deposition of the Kurrawang Beds, Coolgardie Goldfield, Western Australia. J Geol Soc Aust 20:217–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Compston W, Williams IS, Campbell IH, Gresham JJ (1986) Zircon xenocrysts from the Kambalda volcanics: age constraints and direct evidence for older continental crust below the Kambalda-Norseman greenstones. Earth Planet Sci Lett 76:299–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullen I, Norris N (1988) Gold deposits of the New Celebration gold mine. In: Bicentennial Gold’88 excursion guidebook no. 6. The University of Western Australia, Geology Department and University Extension, Publication 14, pp 87–90

  • Czarnota K, Champion DC, Goscombe B, Blewett RS, Cassidy KF, Henson PA, Groenewald PB (2010) Geodynamics of the eastern Yilgarn Craton. Precambrian Res 183:175–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis BK, Blewett RS, Squire R, Champion DC, Henson PA (2010) Granite-cored domes and gold mineralization: architectural and geodynamic controls around the Archaean Scotia-Kanowna Dome, Kalgoorlie Terrane, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 183:316–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Joux A, Thordarson T, Denny M, Hinton RW, de Joux AJ (2013) U-Pb dating constraints on the felsic and intermediate volcanic sequence of the nickel-sulphide bearing cosmos succession, Agnew-Wiluna greenstone belt, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 236:85–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Defant MJ, Drummond MS (1990) Derivation of some modern arc magmas by melting of young subducted lithosphere. Nature 347:662–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng J, Wang C, Bagas L, Carranza EJM, Lu Y (2015) Cretaceous-Cenozoic tectonic history of the Jiaojia Fault and gold mineralization in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China: constraints from zircon U-Pb, illite K-Ar, and apatite fission track thermochronometry. Mineral Deposita 50:987–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dielemans P (2000) Structural controls on gold mineralization in the Southern Ore Zone of the Hampton-Boulder deposit, New Celebration gold mine, Western Australia. Master thesis, the University of Western Australia, Perth

  • Dilles JH, Kent AJR, Wooden JL, Tosdal RM, Koleszar A, Lee RG, Farmer LP (2015) Zircon compositional evidence for sulphur-degassing from ore-forming arc magmas. Econ Geol 110:241–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodson MH (1979) Theory of cooling ages. In: Jäger E, Hunziker JC (eds) Lectures in isotope geology. Springer, Berlin, pp 194–202

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dunphy JM, Fletcher IR, Cassidy KF, Champion DC (2003) Compilation of SHRIMP geochronological data, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, 2001–2002. Geoscience Australia Record 2003/15, 139 pp

  • Fletcher IR, Rosman KJR, Libby WG (1988) Sm-Nd, Pb-Pb and Rb-Sr geochronology of the Manfred complex, Mount Narryer, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 38:343–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher IR, Dunphy JM, Cassidy KF, Champion DC (2001) Compilation of SHRIMP U-Pb geochronological data, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, 2000–2001. Geoscience Australia Record 2001/47, 111 pp

  • Gebre-Mariam M, Groves DI, McNaughton NJ, Mikucki EJ, Vearncombe JA (1993) Archaean Au-Ag mineralization at Racetrack, near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: a high crustal-level expression of the Archaean composite lode-gold system. Mineral Deposita 28:375–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glikson AY (1971a) Archaean geosynclinal sedimentation near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Geol Soc Aust Spec Pub 3:443–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Glikson AY (1971b) Structure and metamorphism of the Kalgoorlie system southwest of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Geol Soc Aust Spec Publ 3:121–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldfarb RJ, Baker T, Dubé B, Groves DI, Hart CJR, Gosselin P (2005) Distribution, character and genesis of gold deposits in metamorphic terranes. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, pp 407–450

  • Goscombe BD, Blewett RS (2009) Plate 1: East Yilgarn Craton metamorphism and strain map. Geoscience Australia Map Series: www.ga.gov.au/data-pubs/maps

  • Goscombe B, Blewett RS, Czarnota K, Groenewald PB, Maas R (2009) Metamorphic evolution and integrated terrane analysis of the eastern Yilgarn Craton: rationale, methods, outcomes and interpretations. Geoscience Australia Record 2009/23, 270 pp

  • Gresham JJ, Loftus-Hills GD (1981) The geology of the Kambalda Nickel Field, Western Australia. Econ Geol 76:1373–1416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groves DI, Goldfarb RJ, Gebre-Mariam M, Hagemann SG, Robert F (1998) Orogenic gold deposits: a proposed classification in the context of their crustal distribution and relationship to other deposit types. Ore Geol Rev 13:7–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gustafson JK, Miller FS (1937) Kalgoorlie geology re-interpreted. Proc Aust Inst Min Metall 106:93–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagemann SG, Cassidy KF (2000) Archean orogenic lode gold deposits. Rev Econ Geol 13:9–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall HIE, Bekker C (1965) Gold deposits of Norseman. In: Andrew J (ed) Geology of Australian ore deposit. 8th Commonwealth Min Metall Congress, Melbourne, pp 101–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallberg JA (1983) Geology and mineral deposits of the Leonora-Laverton area, northeastern Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. Geological Survey of Western Australia Record 1983/8, 140 pp

  • Hayman PC, Thébaud N, Pawley MJ, Barnes SJ, Cas RAF, Amelin Y, Sapkota J, Squire RJ, Campbell IH, Pegg I (2015) Evolution of a ~2.7 Ga large igneous province: a volcanological, geochemical and geochronological study of the Agnew Greenstone Belt, and new regional correlations for the Kalgoorlie Terrane (Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia). Precambrian Res 270:334–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill RI, Campbell IH (1993) Age of granite emplacement in the Norseman region of Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 40:559–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill RI, Chappell BW, Campbell IH (1992) Late Archaean granites of the southeastern Yilgarn Block, Western Australia: age, geochemistry, and origin. Trans R Soc Edinb Earth Sci 83:211–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho SE, Bennett JM, Cassidy KF, Hronsky JMA, Mikucki EJ, Sang JH (1990) Fluid inclusion studies. In: Ho SE, Groves DI, Bennett JM (eds) Gold deposits of the Archaean Yilgarn Block, Western Australia: nature, genesis, and exploration guides. University of Western Australia, Publication 20, pp 198–211

  • Hobbs BE, Means WD, Williams PF (1976) An outline of structural geology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland TJB, Blundy J (1994) Non-ideal interactions in calcic amphiboles and their bearing on amphibole-plagioclase thermometry. Contrib Mineral Petrol 116:433–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland TJB, Powell R (2000) A program to calculate activities of mineral end members from chemical analyses (usually determined by electron microprobe): www.esc.cam.ac.uk/astaff/holland/ax.html

  • Hou Z, Pan X, Li Q, Yang Z, Song Y (2013) The giant Dexing porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit in east China: product of melting of juvenile lower crust in an intracontinental setting. Mineral Deposita 48:1019–1045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman DW (1985) Petrology of igneous and metamorphic rocks, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Iizuka T, McCulloch MT, Komiya T, Shibuya T, Ohta K, Ozawa H, Sugimura E, Collerson KD (2010) Monazite geochronology and geochemistry of meta-sediments in the Narryer Gneiss Complex, Western Australia: constraints on the tectonothermal history and provenance. Contrib Mineral Petrol 160:803–823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Mineralogical Association (1997) Nomenclature of amphiboles: report of the subcommittee on amphiboles of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Am Mineral 82:1019–1037

    Google Scholar 

  • Isles DJ, Cooke AC, Hallberg JA (1990) Aeromagnetic evaluation. In: Ho SE, Groves DI, Bennett JM (eds) Gold deposits of the Archaean Yilgarn Block, Western Australia: nature, genesis, and exploration guides. University of Western Australia, Publication 20, pp 342–347

  • Ivey ME, Fowler MJ, Gent PG, Barker AJ (1998) Centurion gold deposit, Binduli. In: Berkman DA, MacKenzie DH (eds) Geology of Australian and Papua New Guinean mineral deposits, vol 22. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Monograph, Melbourne, pp 215–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Keats W (1987) Regional geology of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder gold-mining district. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Perth, Report 21, 44 pp

  • Kent AJR (1994) Geochronological constraints on the timing of Archean gold mineralization in the Yilgarn Craton. Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, Canberra, 268 pp

  • Kent AJR, McDougall I (1995) 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb age constraints on the timing of gold mineralization in the Kalgoorlie goldfield, Western Australia. Econ Geol 90:845–859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knopf A (1929) The Morther Lode system of California. U.S. Geol Survey Prof Paper 157, 88 pp

  • Kositcin N, Brown SJA, Barley ME, Krapez B, Cassidy KF, Champion DC (2008) SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age constraints on the Late Archaean tectonostratigraphic architecture of the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 161:5–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krapez B, Hand JL (2008) Late Archaean deep-marine volcaniclastic sedimentation in an arc-related basin: the Kalgoorlie sequence of the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 161:89–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krapez B, Brown SJA, Hand J, Barley ME, Cas RAF (2000) Age constraints on recycled crustal and supracrustal sources of Archaean metasedimentary sequences, Eastern Goldfields Province, Western Australia: evidence from SHRIMP zircon dating. Tectonophysics 322:89–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krapez B, Barley ME, Brown SJA (2008) Late Archaean synorogenic basins of the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, Part 1: Kalgoorlie and Gindalbie Terranes. Precambrian Res 161:135–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langsford N (1989) The stratigraphy of locations 48 and 50. In: Glacken IM (ed) The 1989 Kalgoorlie gold workshop—annual conference and Eastern Goldfields Geological Discussion Group, Kalgoorlie. Western Australia. Australasian Inst Min Metall, Melbourne, pp B1–B8

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig KR (2003) Isoplot 3.00, a geochronological toolkit for Microsoft Excel. Berkeley Geochronology Center, San Francisco, Special Publication 4, 70 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • McCall GJH, Braybrooke JC, Middleton DD (1970) The Merougil Creek sub-area. J R Soc West Aust 53:9–32

    Google Scholar 

  • McGoldrick KL, Squire RJ, Cas RAF, Briggs M, Tunjic J, Allen CM, Campbell IH, Hayman PC (2013) The largest gold deposits in the St Ives Goldfield (Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia) may be located in a major Neoarchean volcano-sedimentary depo-centre. Mineral Deposita 48:861–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNaughton NJ, Mueller AG, Groves DI (2005) The age of the giant Golden Mile deposit, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: ion-microprobe zircon and monazite U-Pb geochronology of a synmineralization lamprophyre dike. Econ Geol 100:1427–1440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercer CN, Reed MH (2013) Porphyry Cu-Mo stockwork formation by dynamic, transient hydrothermal pulses: mineralogic insights from the deposit at Butte, Montana. Econ Geol 108:1347–1377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merzbacher C, Eggler DH (1984) A magmatic geohygrometer: application to Mount St. Helens and other dacitic magmas. Geology 12:587–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikucki EJ, Roberts FI (2004) Metamorphic petrography of the Kalgoorlie region, Eastern Goldfields granite-greenstone terrane: METPET database. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Record 2003/12, 40 pp

  • Miller J, Blewett R, Tunjic J, Connors K (2010) The role of early formed structures on the development of the world class St Ives Goldfield, Yilgarn, WA. Precambrian Res 183:292–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris PA, Witt WK (1997) Geochemistry and tectonic setting of two contrasting Archaean felsic volcanic associations in the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 83:83–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG (1992) Petrogenesis of amphibole-biotite-calcite-plagioclase alteration and laminated gold-silver quartz veins in four Archean shear zones of the Norseman district, Western Australia. Can J Earth Sci 29:388–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG (1997a) Petrography of gold skarn and granite intrusions at the Chalice deposit, Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, Western Australia. Unpublished company report, Resolute Limited, 15 pp

  • Mueller AG (1997b) Petrography of the Ghost Crab (Mt Marion) gold deposit, Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, Western Australia. Unpublished company report, New Celebration mine, 12 pp

  • Mueller AG (2007) Copper-gold endoskarns and high-Mg monzodiorite-tonalite intrusions at Mt Shea, Kalgoorlie, Australia: implications for the origin of gold-pyrite-tennantite mineralization in the Golden Mile. Mineral Deposita 42:737–769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG (2015) Structure, alteration, and geochemistry of the Charlotte quartz vein stockwork, Mt Charlotte gold mine, Kalgoorlie, Australia: time constraints, down-plunge zonation, and fluid source. Mineral Deposita 50:221–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, Groves DI (1991) The classification of Western Australian greenstone-hosted gold deposits according to wallrock-alteration mineral assemblages. Ore Geol Rev 6:291–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, Harris LB (1987) An application of wrench tectonic models to mineralized structures in the Golden Mile district, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. In: Ho SE, Groves DI (eds) Recent advances in understanding Precambrian gold deposits. University of Western Australia, Geology Department and University Extension, Publication 11, pp 97–107

  • Mueller AG, McNaughton NJ (2000) U-Pb ages constraining batholith emplacement, contact metamorphism, and the formation of gold and W-Mo skarns in the Southern Cross area, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Econ Geol 95:1231–1257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, Muhling JR (2013) Silver-rich telluride mineralization at Mount Charlotte and Au-Ag zonation in the giant Golden Mile deposit, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Mineral Deposita 48:295–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, Harris LB, Lungan A (1988) Structural control of greenstone-hosted gold mineralization by transcurrent shearing—a new interpretation of the Kalgoorlie mining district, Western Australia. Ore Geol Rev 3:359–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, de Laeter JR, Groves DI (1991) Strontium isotope systematics of hydrothermal minerals from epigenetic Archean gold deposits in the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. Econ Geol 86:780–809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, Hall GC, Nemchin AA, Stein HJ, Creaser RA, Mason DR (2008) Archean high-Mg monzodiorite-syenite, epidote skarn, and biotite-sericite gold lodes in the Granny Smith-Wallaby district, Australia: U-Pb and Re-Os chronometry of two intrusion-related hydrothermal systems. Mineral Deposita 43:337–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller AG, Lawrance LM, Muhling J, Pooley GD (2012) Mineralogy and PTX relationships of the Archean Hannan South Au-Cu (Co-Bi) deposit, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: thermodynamic constraints on the formation of a zoned intrusion-related skarn. Econ Geol 107:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers JS, Williams IR (1985) Early Precambrian crustal evolution at Mount Narryer, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 27:153–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DR (1997) Evolution of the Archaean granite-greenstone terranes of the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia: SHRIMP U-Pb zircon constraints. Precambrian Res 83:57–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemchin AA, Pidgeon RT (1998) Precise conventional and SHRIMP baddellyite U-Pb age for the Binneringie Dyke, near Narrogin, Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 45:673–675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumayr P, Walshe J, Hagemann S, Petersen K, Roache A, Frikken P, Horn L, Halley S (2008) Oxidized and reduced mineral assemblages in greenstone belt rocks of the St. Ives gold camp, Western Australia: vectors to high-grade ore bodies in Archaean gold deposits? Mineral Deposita 43:363–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen P (1997) Structural controls on gold mineralisation at the Revenge mine and its tectonic setting in the Lake Lefroy area, Kambalda, Western Australia. Ph.D. thesis, the University of Western Australia, Perth, 195 pp

  • Nichols SJ, Hagemann SG (2014) Structural and hydrothermal alteration evidence for two gold mineralization events at the New Celebration gold deposit in Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 61:113–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ovens G (2014) Gold Fields Australia site visit: St Ives gold mine. Gold fields internet website presentation 15 July 2014, 74 pp, www.goldfields.co.za

  • Perriam RPA (1985) The tectonic evolution of the Mount Martin-Carnilya Hill district of the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia. Master thesis, the University of Western Australia, Perth.

  • Perring CS (1988) Petrogenesis of the lamprophyre-“porphyry” suite from Kambalda, Western Australia. In: Ho SE, Groves DI (eds) Advances in understanding Precambrian gold deposits, vol. 2. University of Western Australia, Publication 12, pp 277–294

  • Perring CS, Rock NMS (1991) Relationships between calc-alkaline acidic and basic (mantle-derived) magmas in Late Archaean composite dykes, Kambalda Goldfield, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 52:245–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perring CS, Rock NMS, Golding SD, Roberts DE (1989) Criteria for the recognition of metamorphosed or altered lamprophyres: a case study from the Archaean of Kambalda, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 43:215–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polito PA, Bone Y, Clarke JDA, Mernagh TP (2001) Compositional zoning of fluid inclusions in the Archaean Junction gold deposit, Western Australia: a process of fluid-wall-rock interaction? Aust J Earth Sci 48:833–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purvis AC (1984) Metamorphosed altered komatiites at Mount Martin, Western Australia—Archaean weathering products metamorphosed at the aluminosilicate triple point. Aust J Earth Sci 31:91–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen B, Muhling JR (2007) Monazite begets monazite: evidence for dissolution of detrital monazite and reprecipitation of syntectonic monazite during low-grade regional metamorphism. Contrib Mineral Petrol 154:675–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen B, Mueller AG, Fletcher IR (2009) Zirconolite and xenotime U-Pb constraints on the emplacement of the Golden Mile Dolerite sill and gold mineralization at the Mt Charlotte mine, Eastern Goldfields Province, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 157:559–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redman BA, Keays RR (1985) Archaean basic volcanism in the Eastern Goldfields Province, Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 30:113–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridolfi F, Renzulli A, Puerini M (2010) Stability and chemical equilibrium of amphibole in calc-alkaline magmas: an overview, new thermobarometric formulations and application to subduction-related volcanoes. Contrib Mineral Petrol 160:45–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rittmann A (1973) Stable mineral assemblages of igneous rocks. Springer, Berlin, 262 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Robert F, Poulsen KH (2001) Vein formation and deformation in greenstone gold deposits. Rev Econ Geol 14:111–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert F, Poulsen KH, Cassidy KF, Hodgson CJ (2005) Gold metallogeny of the Superior and Yilgarn Cratons. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, pp 1001–1033

  • Roddick JC (1984) Emplacement and metamorphism of Archaean mafic volcanics at Kambalda, Western Australia—geochemical and isotopic constraints. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 48:1305–1318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross AA, Barley ME, Brown SJA, McNaughton NJ, Ridley JR, Fletcher IR (2004) Young porphyries, old zircons: new constraints on the timing of deformation and gold mineralization in the Eastern Goldfields from SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating at the Kanowna Belle gold mine, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 128:105–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth E, Bennett JM, Symons PM (1990) Boddington and Black Flag: anomalous Archaean gold deposits. In: Ho SE, Groves DI, Bennett JM (eds) Gold deposits of the Archaean Yilgarn Block, Western Australia: nature, genesis, and exploration guides. University of Western Australia, Publication 20, pp 189–194

  • Rutherford MJ, Devine JD (1988) The May 18, 1980, eruption of Mont St. Helens 3. Stability and chemistry of amphibole in the magma chamber. J Geophys Res 93:11949–11959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt MW (1992) Amphibole composition in tonalite as a function of pressure: an experimental calibration of the Al-in-hornblende barometer. Contrib Mineral Petrol 110:304–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seedorf E, Dilles JH, Proffett JM, Einaudi MT, Zurcher L, Stavast WJR, Johnson DA, Barton MD (2005) Porphyry deposits: characteristics and origin of hypogene features. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, pp 251–298

  • Sibson RH, Robert F, Poulsen KH (1988) High-angle reverse faults, fluid-pressure cycling, and mesothermal gold-quartz deposits. Geology 16:551–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Sircombe KN, Cassidy KF, Champion DC, Tripp G (2007) Compilation of SHRIMP U-Pb geochronological data. Geoscience Australia Record 2007/01, 182 pp

  • Squire RJ, Cas RAF, Clout JMF, Behets R (1998) Volcanology of the Archaean Lunnon Basalt and its relevance to nickel sulphide-bearing trough structures at Kambalda, Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 45:695–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Squire RJ, Allen CM, Cas RAF, Campbell IH, Blewett RS, Nemchin AA (2010) Two cycles of voluminous pyroclastic volcanism and sedimentation related to episodic granite emplacement during the late Archean: Eastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 183:251–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiger RH, Jäger E (1977) Subcommission of geochronology: convention on the use of decay constants in geo- and cosmochronology. Earth Planet Sci Lett 36:359–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone WE, Beresford SW, Archibald NJ (2005) Structural setting and shape analysis of nickel sulphide shoots at the Kambalda Dome, Western Australia: implications for deformation and remobilization. Econ Geol 100:1441–1455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streck MJ, Dilles JH (1998) Sulfur evolution of oxidized arc magmas as recorded in apatite from a porphyry copper batholith. Geology 26:523–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streckeisen A (1976) To each plutonic rock its proper name. Earth-Sci Rev 12:1–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swager CP (1989) Structure of Kalgoorlie greenstones—regional deformation history and implications for the structural setting of the Golden Mile gold deposits. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Report 25, pp 59–84

  • Swager CP (1997) Tectono-stratigraphy of late Archaean greenstone terranes in the southern Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 83:11–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swager CP, Griffin TJ, Witt WK, Wyche S, Ahmat AL, Hunter WM, McGoldrick PJ (1995) Geology of the Archaean Kalgoorlie terrane—an explanatory note. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Report 48, 26 pp

  • Taylor WR, Rock NMS, Groves DI, Perring CS (1994) Geochemistry of Archean shoshonitic lamprophyres from the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia: Au abundance and association with gold mineralization. Appl Geochem 9:197–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teufel S, Heinrich W (1997) Partial resetting of the U-Pb isotope system in monazite through hydrothermal experiments: an SEM and U-Pb isotope study. Chem Geol 137:273–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thern ER, Nelson DR (2012) Detrital zircon age structure within ca. 3 Ga metasedimentary rocks, Yilgarn Craton: elucidation of hadean source terranes by principal component analysis. Precambrian Res 214–215:28–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas A, Johnson K, MacGeehan PJ (1990) Norseman gold deposits. In: Hughes FE (ed) Geology of the mineral deposits of Australia and Papua New Guinea, vol 14. The Australasian Inst Min Metall, Monograph, Melbourne, pp 493–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson JA (1913) On the petrology of the Kalgoorlie Goldfield, Western Australia. Q J Geol Soc Lond 69:621–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Travis GA (1975) Nickel-copper sulphide mineralization in the Jimberlana intrusion. In: Knight CL (ed) Economic geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea, vol 5, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, Monograph., pp 75–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Travis GA, Woodall R, Bartram GD (1971) The geology of the Kalgoorlie goldfield. Geol Soc Aust Spec Publ 3:175–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripp G (2004) Rubicon gold mine, Kundana mining centre. Geological Survey of Western Australia Record 2004/16, pp 61–73

  • Tripp G I (2013) Stratigraphy and structure in the Neoarchaean of the Kalgoorlie district, Australia: critical controls on greenstone-hosted gold deposits. Dissertation, James Cook University, Townsville

  • Vielreicher NM, Groves DI, Snee LW, Fletcher IR, McNaughton NJ (2010) Broad synchroneity of three gold mineralization styles in the Kalgoorlie Gold Field: SHRIMP U-Pb, and 40Ar-39Ar geochronological evidence. Econ Geol 105:187–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vielreicher N, Groves D, McNaughton N, Fletcher I (2015) The timing of gold mineralization across the eastern Yilgarn Craton using U-Pb geochronology of hydrothermal phosphate minerals. Mineral Deposita 50:391–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang R, Richards JP, Zeng-Qian H, Zhi-Ming Y, Zheng-Bin G, DuFrane SA (2014) Increasing magmatic oxidation state from Paleocene to Miocene in the eastern Gangdese belt, Tibet: implications for collision-related porphyry Cu-Mo ± Au mineralization. Econ Geol 109:1943–1965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watchorn RB (1998) Kamblada-St Ives gold deposits. In: Berkman DA, MacKenzie DH (eds) Geology of Australian and Papua New Guinean mineral deposits, vol 22. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Monograph, Melbourne, pp 243–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg RF, van der Borgh P, Bateman RJ, Groves DI (2005) Kinematic history of the Boulder-Lefroy shear zone system and controls on associated gold mineralization, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Econ Geol 100:1407–1426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams IS (1998) U-Th-Pb geochronology by ion microprobe. Rev Econ Geol 7:1–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wingate MTD, Campbell IH, Harris LB (2000) SHRIMP baddeleyite age for the Fraser Dyke Swarm, southeast Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 47:309–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witt WK (1994) Geology of the Bardoc 1:100,000 sheet. Geological Survey Western Australia, Explanatory Notes, 50 pp

  • Witt WK, Davy R (1997) Geology and geochemistry of Archaean granites in the Kalgoorlie region of the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia: a syn-collisional tectonic setting? Precambrian Res 83:133–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witt WK, Swager CP (1989) Structural setting and geochemistry of Archaean I-type granites in the Bardoc-Coolgardie area of the Norseman-Wiluna Belt, Western Australia. Precambrian Res 44:323–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodall R (1965) Structure of the Kalgoorlie goldfield. In: Andrew J (ed) Geology of Australian ore deposit. 8th Commonwealth Min Metall Congress, Melbourne, pp 71–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue Y, Campbell I (2014) The mineralogy of the Bellerophon-Nelson telluride-bearing gold deposit, St. Ives camp, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Can Mineral 52:981–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Phillips GN, Denn S, Burke S (2003) Woodcutters goldfield: gold in an Archaean granite, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 50:553–569

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Andreas Mueller and Steffen Hagemann acknowledge the support from the University of Western Australia during their Ph.D. studies. David Groves introduced us to the mysteries of Archean gold mineralization. We are grateful to Greg Hall, former Chief Geologist of Placer Dome Asia Pacific, who consistently supported field-based research. Andreas Mueller acknowledges the Centre for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis (CMCA) at the University of Western Australia, and the assistance of Malcolm Roberts during sessions at the electron microprobe. Neal McNaughton acknowledges the John de Laeter Centre for Isotope Research at Curtin University. The centre operates the SHRIMP II ion microprobes as part of a government-university consortium.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Andreas G. Mueller & Steffen G. Hagemann

  2. John de Laeter Centre for Isotope Research, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

    Neal J. McNaughton

Authors
  1. Andreas G. Mueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steffen G. Hagemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Neal J. McNaughton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas G. Mueller.

Additional information

Editorial handling: B. Lehmann

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 418 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mueller, A.G., Hagemann, S.G. & McNaughton, N.J. Neoarchean orogenic, magmatic and hydrothermal events in the Kalgoorlie-Kambalda area, Western Australia: constraints on gold mineralization in the Boulder Lefroy-Golden Mile fault system. Miner Deposita 55, 633–663 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-016-0665-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-016-0665-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation